The Golden temple is located in the holy city of the Sikhs, Amritsar. Everybody, irrespective of cast, creed or race can seek spiritual solace and religious fulfilment without any hindrance. It also represents the distinct identity, glory and heritage of the Sikhs. Located right in the heart of Amritsar, the stunning golden architecture of the temple and the daily Langar (community kitchen) attract a large number of visitors and devotees each day. The temple is open to devotees of all faiths and serves over 100,000 people free food from all walks of life.
Architecture of Golden Temple
- The Golden Temple is a mesmerising blend of Hindu and Islamic architectural styles and appears to be floating at the end of a long causeway. It has an elegant marble lower level embellished with animal and flower motifs in pietra dura work.
- Above this is the shimmering second level, circumscribed in intricately carved gold panels, topped by a 750 kg gold gilded dome.
- The gleaming inner sanctum sees the priests and the musicians continuously chanting the Guru Granth Sahib, piling on to the already intense religious atmosphere.
- After paying obeisance, pilgrims generally retreat to the second floor, which has the intricately painted gallery.
- The Hari Mandir (central temple) is connected to the pathway by a marble causeway which is known as Guru’s Bridge. This path symbolises the journey of the soul after death. Embraced by marble stairways, this tank is believed to have healing powers that can cure many diseases.
World’s Largest Free Kitchen
The temple has the largest kitchen in the world offering free langar food to people of all religions and faiths. Guru-Ka-Langar is an enormous dining room located at the southeast end of the temple complex where an estimated 60,000 to 80,000 pilgrims a day come to eat after praying at the Golden Temple. The food is free of charge, but the pilgrims often make donations and offer help with the staggering pile of dishes to be washed. It is a humbling projection of the Sikh doctrine of hospitality, catering to everyone from paupers to millionaires. The food served here is vegetarian to ensure that all people can eat together here, as equals. This is often touted as the World’s Largest Free Kitchen.
How to Reach:
- By Air: Sri Guru Ramdass International airport nearest airport from Golden Temple and distance from airport is 13 kilometers.
- By Train: Amritsar Railway Station nearest railway station from Golden Temple and distance from station is 2 kilometers.
- By Road: Bus Stand Amritsar nearest bus-stop from Golden Temple and distance from bus-stop is 1.7 kilometers.
Structures inside the Temple
1. Akal Takht and Teja Singh Samundri Hall: Akal Takht, meaning “The throne of the Timeless (God)” stands right in front of the main sanctum. Established by Guru Hargobind after his father Guru Arjan, the place came to be known for its ceremonial, spiritual as well as secular affairs.
2. Clock Tower: The Clock Tower built by the British stands in the place of the “lost palace”. In the Second Anglo-Sikh War, the British demolished a part of the building and added a clock tower instead. Designed by John Gordon, the Clock Tower was built in the year 1874 but was later demolished by the Sikhs, 70 years later.
3. Ber Trees: The temple premises has a two storey courtyard with four entrances and 3 Ber (jujube) trees. The first one is called the Ber Baba Buddha and is located to the right of the ghanta ghar deori. The tree gets its name from Baba Buddha who sat under this tree while supervising the construction of the first temple and the pool. The second tree called the Laachi Ber is believed to be the tree under which Guru Arjan took rest while the construction of the temple was taking place. The third tree, Dukh Bhanjani Bher is located across the pool, on the other side of the sanctum.
4. Sikh History Museums: The main ghanta ghar deori houses a Sikh museum on its first floor which displays the various paintings of the Gurus as well as the martyrs. Items such as swords, kartar, combs, chakkars stored in the museum depict the Sikh history in all its glory.
2. Clock Tower: The Clock Tower built by the British stands in the place of the “lost palace”. In the Second Anglo-Sikh War, the British demolished a part of the building and added a clock tower instead. Designed by John Gordon, the Clock Tower was built in the year 1874 but was later demolished by the Sikhs, 70 years later.
3. Ber Trees: The temple premises has a two storey courtyard with four entrances and 3 Ber (jujube) trees. The first one is called the Ber Baba Buddha and is located to the right of the ghanta ghar deori. The tree gets its name from Baba Buddha who sat under this tree while supervising the construction of the first temple and the pool. The second tree called the Laachi Ber is believed to be the tree under which Guru Arjan took rest while the construction of the temple was taking place. The third tree, Dukh Bhanjani Bher is located across the pool, on the other side of the sanctum.
4. Sikh History Museums: The main ghanta ghar deori houses a Sikh museum on its first floor which displays the various paintings of the Gurus as well as the martyrs. Items such as swords, kartar, combs, chakkars stored in the museum depict the Sikh history in all its glory.
Daily Ceremonies
- The opening ritual is called Prakash, which translates into “light”. At dawn every day, the Guru Granth Sahib is taken out of its room, carried on the head and then placed and carried around on a flower-decorated palanquin. It is brought to the main sanctum and a ritual singing of the Var Asa kirtans and ardas takes place and a random page from the holy book is opened. This is called the mukhwah of the day and the page is read aloud and also written for pilgrims to read during the day.
- The closing ritual, sukhsan starts at night and the Guru Granth Sahib is closed after a series of devotional kirtans and three-part ardas are recited. It is carried on the head and then placed and carried in the flower-decorated, pillow-bed palanquin while the devotees chant. It is carried into the Akal Takht and tucked into bed.
